If you have lost a family member or loved one in serious automobile accident, construction site injury or another type of fatal accident, we want to help. We understand that money granted from a lawsuit cannot make up for your/the families losses, but we do know it will help you pay the necessary expenses needed to continue to support your family. Allow us to help you handle the legal matters while you recover emotionally.

In this post we will cover the damages available in wrongful death lawsuits.

Types of Damages

Below are the type of damages the CT wrongful death statute in a wrongful death lawsuit:

The statute allows for payment of the following types of damages:

1)funeral expenses;

2)any medical bills incurred prior to the decedent’s untimely death;

3) conscious pain and suffering;

4) the value of the decedent’s lost earning capacity less deductions for (his/her) necessary living expenses, taking into consideration that a present cash payment will be made;

5) compensation for the destruction of the decedent’s capacity to carry on and enjoy life’s activities in a way that (he/she) would have done had (he/she) lived;

6) and compensation for the death itself.

Punitive damages:

In extreme cases of outrageous conduct, punitive damages or double and treble damages can be awarded against the defendant who caused another’s death if said conduct was intentional or reckless as defined by the law.

These damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit.

Calculating Damages

Calculating damages is very complicated, and often expert witnesses, such as economists and actuaries, are called in to give their opinions on what they feel is the proper amount of damages.

Oftentimes these calculations will include not only income and benefits earned outside the home, but also the monetary value of services and care provided inside the home by a homemaker parent (such as child care, cooking, laundry, house cleaning and maintenance, shopping, education, medical care, and transportation).

Time Limits for Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

As a general rule, a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the misconduct that caused the death of the victim. First, though an estate must be set up for the matter to proceed.

Our firm has vast experience handling these types of cases and are here to answer your most difficult questions and help you through the process of trying to recover after such a tragic loss.

Tindall Law Firm, LLC, in Waterbury, serves clients from areas such as Waterbury, Hartford, Danbury, Southington, Cheshire, Wolcott, Meriden, Naugatuck, Watertown, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Berlin, Middletown, Southbury, Brookfield and Torrington, as well as New Haven County, Hartford County, Fairfield County and Litchfield County in Connecticut.